A Restaurant That Apparently Doesn’t Believe in Subtlety

Serendipity 3, the restaurant long known for desserts so large they could double as toddler swimming pools, has decided to usher in September with a themed menu inspired by—wait for it—Mamma Mia, because nothing says back-to-school and carpool chaos like the sudden urge to sing ABBA while eating an oversized sundae.

Yes, while parents everywhere are drowning in supply lists and wondering why a six-year-old needs 48 glue sticks, Serendipity 3 has chosen to provide what really matters: a chance to consume enough grilled chicken, blue drinks, and hot fudge to distract from the fact that the soccer cleats you bought last week are already too small.

The Aegean Sea Spritz: For When You Can’t Afford a Vacation

First up, the Aegean Sea Spritz. It’s a drink so vibrantly blue it could make your kid’s “slime-making experiment gone wrong” look subtle. Made with Blue Curaçao, it’s the sort of beverage that looks exactly like what you’d order when you want people at the following table to think, “Wow, they’re definitely posting this on Instagram.”

For those not looking to explain to their children why mommy’s soda tastes suspiciously cheerful, there’s also a mocktail version. Because nothing screams family bonding like everyone pretending they’re in Greece while sitting in midtown Manhattan listening to ABBA on repeat.

The Mamma Mia! Greek Salad: Because Plain Salad Would Be Too Easy

Then there’s the Mamma Mia! Greek Salad with herbed grilled chicken. It’s the kind of dish that insists, “I’m healthy,” while simultaneously arriving in a portion size that would make a family of four consider whether they should’ve brought Tupperware. The grilled chicken, cooked perfectly (as if the chef personally auditioned it for a cooking show), is just one more reminder that yes, this is the kind of salad where “light lunch” goes to die.

It’s also suspiciously on-theme—Greek salad for Mamma Mia? Groundbreaking. Somewhere, a parent will be trying to explain to their children what feta is while muttering, “Please don’t just eat the olives and leave the rest.”

The Dancing Queen Sundae: Resistance Is Futile

And then there’s the crown jewel: the Dancing Queen Sundae. A creation so large that attempting to finish it with only two people is less of a dessert and more of a dare. It comes loaded with Oreos and Serendipity’s own homemade hot fudge—a fudge so rich and decadent it could probably negotiate a peace treaty if given the chance.

One scoop in, and you’ll already be calculating how many extracurricular activities you can cancel for your children to justify the sugar high. Two scoops in, and you’ll start wondering if you should’ve brought an entire soccer team to tackle it. By the time you hit the bottom, you’ll accept that this sundae is less about eating and more about survival.

The Music: Because Silence Would Be Too Peaceful

To accompany this Mamma Mia–themed extravaganza, Serendipity 3 pipes in ABBA music. Constantly. So if you’ve ever thought, “I’d really love to pay money to sit in a crowded restaurant while ‘Dancing Queen’ competes with the sound of my children asking for more whipped cream,” congratulations—your dream has arrived.

The restaurant’s atmosphere is undeniably cheerful, a trait some parents may find endearing and others may file under “too much stimulation after a week of PTA meetings.” Either way, prepare to leave humming “Take a Chance on Me” while your kids argue in the backseat about who got more Oreos.

Why Parents Might Pretend It’s For the Kids

Serendipity 3 has long been a destination where parents say, “Let’s take the kids for dessert,” while secretly meaning, “Let’s get the sundae I don’t want to share.” With this new Mamma Mia menu, the charade becomes even easier. Children can marvel at the bright-blue drinks and mountainous sundaes while parents quietly revel in the fact that, for once, the grilled chicken isn’t dry.

Of course, the portions are so massive that no one family can finish them alone, which is perfect—because nothing builds character in children like learning how to negotiate hot fudge distribution with siblings.

You’ll Need a NapSo here it is: Serendipity 3’s September special. It’s big. It’s colorful. It’s loud. It’s everything your house already is—except this time, someone else does the dishes. Whether you’re escaping the endless school forms or just trying to prove you can finish an Oreo sundae the size of a car tire, Serendipity 3 promises one thing: you’ll leave full, happy, and possibly reconsidering your life choices.

But at least for one night, you’ll get to be a Dancing Queen. Until you’re back in the minivan, humming ABBA under your breath while asking who spilled sprinkles on the car seat.